2014 Workplan

Overarching Efforts

The Seattle Women's Commission will work closely with governmental and community-based organizations to be make certain that women of color, women with disabilities, immigrants, refugees, returning female veterans, and members of the LGBTQ communities are being served appropriately by the Commission's work on each work plan item

Continue to partner with Councilmember O'Brien's office and the Office for Sustainability and Environment to support a temporary intern to conduct research on access to healthy and fresh foods for women and children in Seattle, with a specific focus on WIC providers, and then follow up on any resulting policy recommendations.

Monitor State legislation and city issues (i.e. The Washington State Health Exchange) important to women's health including breastfeeding disparity, support for the Reproductive Parity Act, efficient outreach for individuals signing up for Medicaid and Medicare expansion, and support for mental health services and substance recovery.

Continue to address the social determinants of health in collaboration with community partners. These may include: Teen awareness of health; Infant and maternal mortality; and Access to healthcare.

Research and support protections for women and families in institutional and informal housing and shelters, including: senior women, disabled women, trans* women, LGBTQ youth, recently incarcerated women, and vehicular residents and women living in encampments in the city.

Research and support ways to help reduce long-term homelessness, such as co-location of shelter services and programs to support financial stability.

Conduct outreach to targeted communities to educate tenants on their rights under the Fair Tenant Screening Act.

Research the reasons low-income, immigrant and women-headed households are being priced out of Seattle housing and rental markets, and the impact on women and families.